By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — The past two seasons, Hernando has left Hattiesburg with a sour taste in its mouth after the end of the Class 7A state softball championship series.

However, that wasn’t the case Wednesday afternoon after game one of the latest match-up for the title in the largest classification of play in the state.

The Lady Tigers displayed a potent offense in a 10-4 win over Ocean Springs here at the University of Southern Miss Softball Complex.

Hernando, which is in the state title round for the fifth time in six seasons, now just needs one more win over the next few days to take its second state championship in that span after falling to Northwest Rankin the past two seasons.

The Lady Tigers answered an early 1-0 deficit by scoring 10 out of the next 11 runs in tha game to take game one of the best-of-three series.

Hernando got solo home runs from both Anna Claire Cox and Gracin Higginbotham early, and then Cox socked a two-run shot as well to make it 4-1.

A five run fifth basically sealed the deal for the Lady Tigers, a rally that included a tw0-run single from Molly Anderson.

Kaitlyn Gentry’s game-high three hits led HHS at the plate in the game-winning 10 hit attack.

Emma Franklin took the loss for OSHS in four frames of work.

Olivia Skinner earned the win with a complete game effort.

Ocean Springs, playing in its first-ever fast-pitch state title tilt, got two hits apiece from both K’Lee Gum and Laynee Davis in the loss, as Davis and Gracie Shepherd each had a double and Taylor Farra added a triple.

The two teams will reconvene here Thursday afternoon for game two. Hernando is now 31-3 overall, while OSHS is 27-8.